Zeng Siqi claimed the all-around title and led China to first place Monday as competition continued at the 5th Asian Championships in Putian, China. Pictured: The North Korean women returned after a two-year competitive ban, placing second to China.

Zeng Siqi claimed the all-around title and led China to first place Monday as competition continued at the 5th Asian Championships in Putian, China.

The relatively young Chinese team easily conquered the field, winning the title by nearly 10 points over North Korea and Japan. Wu Liufung, who turns 18 in September, was the team veteran and competed all four events along with 16-year-olds Zeng, Shang Chungsong and Luo Peiru.

Women's all-around medalists Sung, Zeng and Shang

The Asian Championships may be the official coming out party for Zeng and Shang, the tiny twosome who look on their way to challenge for world titles next year in Antwerp.

Zeng won the all-around title over South Korea's Sung Ji-Hye, with Shang taking the bronze.

The team began on uneven bars, earning the top four scores. Uneven bars standout Huang Huidan earned the top score, followed by the delightful Zeng (huge Tkatchev; Lin Li turn into Jaeger; half-in, half-out).

The miniscule Shang — who has to reach well above her head to chalk the low bar — was spectacular, placing sixth despite a fall on her Tkatchev-Gienger combination (Hindorff to Pak; Shaposhnikova; tidy half-in half-out after the compulsory Chinese invert series).

Despite a few mistakes, the Chinese impressed as expected on balance beam with their outstanding impression and amplitude. Zeng had the top mark (15.30, 6.5 Difficulty) with a stunning set starting with a straddle press mount at the end of the beam to handstand walkover. She followed with a high punch front to Korbut; ff ff two-foot layout (nailed); front aerial, ff, layout; switch Yang Bo; side aerial; switch leap to back tuck, full turn to immediate sissone; double pike with one step.

Wu — who suffered the frustation of being the alternate to China's world teams in both 2010 and 2011 — had an outstanding routine going (round off, two-foot layout; front aerial, ff, layout) on the beam, but was lucky not to get injured after her crooked 2 1/2 twist nearly sent her flying off the podium.

The elfin Zeng showed great potential on floor exercise, tumbling a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2; triple twist; double twist; and stuck double pike. Shang was more aggressive with her tumbling (triple twist to punch front; tucked full-in; 2 1/2 twist punch front pike out of bounds; double tuck) but appeared hesitant in her choreography and expression.

China ended on vault, clearly its weakest event. Zeng ditched her double-full for a simple Yurchenko full, and the tiny Shang managed to land the same vault. Luo landed her Yurchenko double-full on her stomach.

After Zeng's weak vault, Wu needed a score 13.95 to win the all-around gold, but threw a casual piked Yurchenko to finish out of the medals.

Following their two-year international ban, the North Korean women returned to competition looking fit and determined to make a strong impression. In October 2010, the International Gymnastics Federation issued a ban after accusing the federation of falsifying the age of Hong Su Jong, who appeared with three different birthdates from 2004 to 2010. (The North Korean Gymnastics Federation, denying complicity in the scandal, reportedly banned Hong Su Jong for life following the incident.)

Clad in sleeveless fuschia leotards, the North Korean women were hot in Putian, claiming the silver medal ahead of Japan by a mere .1. Hong's sister, 2008 Olympic vault champion Hong Un Jong, didn't water down, throwing an Amanar and a Cheng vault. Teammate Ri Un Ha also landed a Cheng, qualifying second to the vault final behind Hong.

Japan sent its B squad, but easily won the bronze ahead of Korea. Risa Konishi had the top mark on floor exercise and qualified to the vault final in fifth.

Once the weakest event for Asian women, vault was remarkably competitive. There were seven vaults with 6.0 or higher Difficulty scores attempted Monday. Vietnamese Olympian Phan Thị Hà Thanh, the bronze medalist at the 2011 Worlds, qualified third to the final behind the North Koreans.

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